May 28, 2009, ENCINITAS, Calif. —
A collaborative effort between U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the
U.S. Coast Guard, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
prevented a maritime smuggling attempt early this morning at the
Encinitas coastline.

At
about 5:20 a.m., Sheriff’s Deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents
responded to an area near Swami’s Beach after receiving a report of
several individuals getting off of a boat that had just come ashore. A
total of 16 males and six females were found scattered in the nearby
brush. The individuals were determined to be Mexican nationals illegally
in the country.

The
30-foot Panga used to smuggle 24 Mexican nationals was stopped by CBP
Marine Interdiction agents about five miles west of the coastline at
Point Loma.

By the
time law enforcement personnel arrived to the scene, the suspected
smuggling boat had returned to sea. The U.S. Coast Guard and CBP Air and
Marine Interdiction agents were immediately notified and began a search
for the boat. A CBP aircraft soon located the 30-foot Panga as it was
traveling southbound. The boat was then stopped by CBP Marine
Interdiction agents about five miles west of the coastline at Point
Loma. Two male Mexican nationals aboard the boat were arrested.

The
entire group of Mexican nationals is currently being detained by the
U.S. Border Patrol. The two men who were found aboard the boat are
facing charges for alien smuggling. Agents also discovered that safety
vests were not available or used during this smuggling incident.

This
coordinated, multi-agency effort demonstrates enhanced response
capabilities to maintain a bolstered enforcement posture along the
coastal border in the San Diego region.

U.S.
Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the
Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and
protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of
entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out
of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.